Getting Lost in NYC...... Operational Consultant for IB dont know what is next

Jonathan2011

4 yr Undergrad in U.S.  from Tie-2 School. (Type in English cuz I dont have chinese input @work)

After graduation,  I got lucky landing on a job in NYC as an Operational Consultant for Bank, it has been almost a year.
Now that I am lost becuase I feel like I got stuck in the BO with no future.
I am doing Trade Support/Back Office stuff.... People are being laid off and banks are cuting costs.....
Planining to go for MBA in next 1.5 years. Hoping to get into Trading FO/IB/Reasrch/ PE .... but worried about my odds to be able to get in TOP MBA, then get desired job.
Recently, I am getting lots of adviseon changing career and negetive outlooks on banking industry.
I am generally confident about the plan (and I need to be in order to make it work), but worried that I am going for the wrong direction.
Hoping to get some advise from people who has experience on the street/banking industry.  Many Thanks

yujing27sf

Hello,

I have to type in English cuz I don't have chinese input @work too.
I got a job as an auditor in NYC too last November right out of the univeristy. I can say I was in your position in Feb. this year (maybe still ) and I felt stuck and there is no way out because of my H1B visa. But when I seriously started to think about leaving, I could not let it go, especially after seeing so many people struggling with their jobs here or in UK or China. So my advice is, no matter how bad the situation is, as long as you are not being laid off,you can try to stick around for around 3 years and learn as much as you can. After 3 years, when you are ready to renew your visa, you can think about career change again.

As far as I know, banking is going pretty good right now, commercial or investment banks. As for MBA, many people around me and doing very well at work usually don't have Master Degree, so I hold skeptical attitude towards the adding value of the MBA Degree itself.  ersonally I think working and communicating with people is the best way to improve and step up in your career.

MBAleo

YOU CAN HAVE A SHOT

Jonathan2011

Hi, Thanks for your response.
You said you were are my position in Feb, did you got a promoted or a better offer now?
I am in a small consulting firm , management is pretty good. And thing are getting better for me as I get to work with sales and traders more.
But still, I am lookin for something more FO oriented so I may go for MBA anyway. Unless I sit in my currently position for more than 5 years, I wont get a chance to move directly to the FO(well, given my background and relationship with FO, and market movement).
So is there any one have similar background as I do and was able to get in Top 10 MBA?(I don't come from a wealthy family, so I will only go for MBA if I can get into Top 10,otherwise, I am gonna stick with my current company see what I can get).
My main goal now is to build up my application profile while I am working.

Jonathan2011

Hello,

I have to type in English cuz I don't have chinese input @work too.
I got a job as an auditor in NYC too last November right out of the univeristy. I can say I was in your position in Feb. this year (maybe still ) and I felt stuck and there is no way out because of my H1B visa. But when I seriously started to think about leaving, I could not let it go, especially after seeing so many people struggling with their jobs here or in UK or China. So my advice is, no matter how bad the situation is, as long as you are not being laid off,you can try to stick around for around 3 years and learn as much as you can. After 3 years, when you are ready to renew your visa, you can think about career change again.

As far as I know, banking is going pretty good right now, commercial or investment banks. As for MBA, many people around me and doing very well at work usually don't have Master Degree, so I hold skeptical attitude towards the adding value of the MBA Degree itself.  ersonally I think working and communicating with people is the best way to improve and step up in your career.

-- by 会员 yujing27sf (2012/9/20 3:54:00)

Hi, Thanks for your response.
You said you were are my position in Feb, did you got a promoted or a better offer now?
I am in a small consulting firm , management is pretty good. And thing are getting better for me as I get to work with sales and traders more.
But still, I am lookin for something more FO oriented so I may go for MBA anyway. Unless I sit in my currently position for more than 5 years, I wont get a chance to move directly to the FO(well, given my background and relationship with FO, and market movement).
So is there any one have similar background as I do and was able to get in Top 10 MBA?(I don't come from a wealthy family, so I will only go for MBA if I can get into Top 10,otherwise, I am gonna stick with my current company see what I can get).
My main goal now is to build up my application profile while I am working.